EIT Food Hub Latvia in 2024 Key Achievements

EIT Food Hub Latvia in 2024 Key Achievements

Activities to support the establishment of synergies

In 2024, the EIT Food RIS Hub Latvia organised a wide range of initiatives to strengthen collaboration and innovation capacity in the national agrifood ecosystem:

  • Mapped and maintained active relationships with key stakeholders from academia, industry, and public authorities, building a strong knowledge triangle network.
  • Organised a high-level Round Table on Sustainable Packaging (26 June, 54 participants), bringing together experts, legislators, companies, and consumers to address the challenges of new EU packaging and waste legislation.
  • Engaged in ongoing collaboration with national bodies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Riga Stradiņš University, Latvian Food Industry Federation, and Green Point Latvia, exploring joint activities and sharing EIT Food opportunities.

Coordination with other EIT RIS Hubs and EIT KIC Offices

EIT Food Hub Latvia actively contributed to the wider EIT Community in Latvia:

  • Midsummer Update at the EIT Community Hub (20 June): Presented EIT Food missions and upcoming activities.
  • Meet the KICs Session (18 September): Focused on shared goals and collaboration across KICs.
  • Pre-Christmas Innovation Ecosystem Meet-up (11 December): Strengthened ties with key innovation actors in Latvia.

Boosting Innovation Capacity in the Local Ecosystem

As part of the 2024 Workplan, the following actions were taken to improve the innovation capacity of Latvia’s agrifood sector:

  • Identified and engaged with local agrifood startups and entrepreneurial talent, matching them with EIT Food programmes and staying in contact with alumni.
  • Recruited participants to international training programs and supported application evaluations.
  • Organised a Challenge Lab on Bold Solutions for Reducing Food Waste (8–10 November, 41 participants), combining traditional ideation with prototype building.
    • 9 teams developed solutions in: future proteins, green farming, blue innovation, waste-free packaging, and IT/biotech-based waste reduction.
    • Winning team "Sustainable Plant Protein" developed a method to valorise high-oil press cakes from oil production.
    • Held a startup event "Food Industry Day" (10 October, 21 participants), where early-stage teams pitched their ideas and explored innovation trends.
  • Actively engaged with the Latvian startup support ecosystem to align efforts and promote EIT Food resources.

Communication and Dissemination Impact

A strategic communication plan was implemented to maximise awareness and participation:

  • 219 participants engaged in 4 events organised by the Hub
  • 57 media appearances (print, online, TV, radio)
  • EIT Food was represented at 16 major events, including:
    • Information Day "Spring 2024" (3 April)
    • Festival "From Field to Table" (15 April)
    • Zemgale Entrepreneurs' Future Forum (15 May)
  • Tractorday 2024 (29 June)
  • RIGAFOOD 2024 (6 September)
  • Organised a national event "Ecosystem of Food Innovation: The Perspective and Opportunities of EIT Food in Latvia" (10 May, 111 participants), which raised the visibility of EIT Food and opened discussions on future opportunities.

Estimated total outreach: more than 11,000 people reached through direct and indirect engagement.